Device For Partitioning Off A Space

ABSTRACT

A device for partitioning off a space includes posts which are fixable to a floor; a wall or wall segments that are carried by the posts; impact members which are adapted to be arranged underneath the wall or wall segments and rest on the floor; a strut that connects respective adjacent posts; wherein at least some of the impact members are supported on the strut.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2006/002831, filed on Mar. 29, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for partitioning off a space, with posts which are fixable to the floor and are intended to carry walls, and with impact members which are arranged underneath the walls and rest on the floor.

RELATED ART

Devices of this type are known as “room dividers”. They are constructed as wall members and are intended to form spatial zones, for example also in self-service shops in which shopping trolleys or transport trolleys are made available to customers. In practice, the shopping or transport trolleys cannot be prevented from striking the impact members. Even if at least some of the impact members resting on the floor are screwed to the floor, damage caused to the impact members by collisions cannot be avoided. In most cases, the impact members which have been struck are torn out of their anchor points.

An object of the invention is to develop further a device of the present type so that at least some of the impact members located between two posts are capable of absorbing relatively great impacts caused by collisions with shopping or transport trolleys, at least for the most part without damage.

According to one embodiment, the object is achieved in that respective adjacent posts are connected by a strut and in that at least some of the impact members are supported on a respective strut.

Advantages of the proposed solution are to be seen in that each strut already constitutes a stabilising member suitable for the absorption of impacts, and that at least some of the impact members are connected to the struts so that impacts acting on the impact members are transmitted from the latter to the struts and are conducted from the latter to the posts. The impact members are optionally also formed so as to be fixable to the floor.

The invention will be further described with reference to embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a device, and

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through an impact member located between two posts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for partitioning off a space. The device 1 comprises at least two posts 2 which are fixable to the floor 12. The posts 2 are intended to carry walls 3 or wall members 3 which are arranged between two posts 2. Impact members 4, 4′ are provided underneath the walls 3 and rest on the floor 12. An impact member 4 constructed as an intermediate piece is provided between two impact members 4′ surrounding the lower region of each post 2 and is connected to the impact members 4′. The two posts 2 are connected by a horizontally arranged, preferably metallic strut 11. The connection between the strut 11 and the posts 2 is usually formed by a plug-in connection. A screw connection is also possible. In the example, the impact member 4 is supported on the strut 11. The two impact members 4′ can be formed so that they are likewise supported on the strut 11. In the example shown in the drawing, it is indicated that the device 1 can be lengthened on one or both sides. The two posts 2 are followed on the left and right by further walls 3 or wall members 3, which are carried by two further posts 2, and so on. In the same way, the corresponding impact members 4, 4′ follow on the left and right and are at least in part supported on further struts 11.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through an impact member 4. The impact member 4 is formed from an extruded section and is usually made of plastics or aluminium. The impact member 4 is constructed as a downwardly open, elongate hollow body which, in addition to the usual stiffening ribs 5, has a downwardly open groove 6 which is intended to receive a strut 11. The impact member 4 can therefore be placed onto the strut 11 from above and rests on the floor 12. An upwardly open groove 8 can be provided in the top 7 of the impact member 4 and is suitable for receiving the lower boundary of a wall 3 or at least one wall member 3. The lower region of the cross-section of the impact member 4 is shown in different forms. On the left, the impact member 4 is constructed so that, starting from the ends of the impact member 4, a respective screw can be screwed through a horizontally extending supporting portion 9 into a respective plug located in the floor 12. The same can also be implemented in the impact members 4′. On the right, the lower region of the cross-section is constructed so that it is impossible to screw the impact member 4 on. The supporting portions 9 have been omitted. Depending upon the selection of the corresponding impact member 4, the selected cross-section is usually constructed in a mirror-image fashion starting from a vertical centre axis 10, i.e. either two opposing supporting portions 9 are provided or these portions 9 are omitted. The impact members 4′ can also have a downwardly open groove 6 and/or an upwardly open groove 8. F indicates a force which acts on the impact member 4 when the latter is struck by a shopping or transport trolley, for example. The supporting function of the strut 11 can easily be understood with reference to the drawing. 

1. A device for partitioning off a space, the device comprising: posts which are fixable to a floor; a wall or wall segments that are carried by the posts; impact members which are adapted to be arranged underneath the wall or wall segments and rest on the floor; a strut that connects respective adjacent posts; wherein at least some of the impact members are supported on the strut.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a connection between the strut and the posts is formed as a plug-in or screw connection.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least the impact member has a downwardly open groove for receiving the strut.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the impact member have an upwardly open groove for receiving the wall or wall segments.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the impact members also have a downwardly open groove or an upwardly open groove.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the impact members also have a downwardly open groove and an upwardly open groove.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the impact members are fixable to the floor.
 8. An impact member for supporting a wall segment, the impact member comprising: a frame having a bottom surface adapted to rest on a floor; a top surface having a groove therein for supporting the wall segment; a downwardly open groove in the interior of the impact member for receiving a horizontal strut. 